Art.....Life.....Intermittent Internet

I have been in one of those typical artist slumps. It is a normal thing and the odd things it takes to get OUT of one, well, are unique to each artist.
Too much stress, feeling like my creativity was being pulled in too many directions without any particular benefit to me, the artist.....time for change. Had to make more than one hard decision just for me. And after the first, things started to flow.
Something absolutely silly to get the  art-cells awake.....

Yup.....an ATC that is half Sweet Pea and half, well....YOU KNOW. It just came out of the clumps and crevices of grey matter. And that's okay too. I like it!
Then I moved on to a 6"x6" canvas which gave me FITS. I had the central element in it but it was fighting me tooth and nail so I left it in the dark cellar and stewed.
Finally, it all sort of blew through the brain at once and I worked quickly.

 

Lolo, those eyes were inspired by your photo on your blog.......and I am hoping you take this as a compliment! LOL! Of course if you hate it, don't tell me...haha!
I used mica gels and iridescent paint on this and little shows unless you have the piece in your hand and gently move it back and forth in the light. Things appear, glitter, and disappear again. Yes, those are tiny watch parts punched through the canvas. I also used a crackle medium, which turned out so-so. I am perpetually in search of a really GOOD one. You can see bits of it, but not what is visible on the actual piece. None the less, the whole makes me happy and I think the meaning is pretty clear~~my heart, my key.

While in search of the elusive mojo, there were a few moments of utter lunacy and hilarity.....I have no qualms with making an ass of myself for the sake of a good laugh. (had a heck of a time finding that knife of DH's that is firmly gripped between the teeth)
And then there are my friends that *know* me and send things totally appropriate for my studio work.....

At my age, I need BOTH types! LOL!!!!
As I ramble through this post, I might also mention the internet has been down, up, half up and in other stages of non-use. I have been indulging in a book from Silke when I am off-line, and I think I could spend MORE time off-line~~it is a good thing.
And now to finish this off, back to my sewing. What I have been cutting.....

I generally am a pretty hardy soul about fabrics, but the one in the background? It had me terrified. Yesterday I put the scissors to it and feel 1000% better. Two stole pieces cut and ready for the sewing when the hand work is completed. Bead decisions....visualizing....letting myself soak into this one as it requires a different approach and must be PERFECT, and I want it to tell a story.
I also have on the sideline, brewing, a commission for three altar cloths and matching pulpit hangings, so there is work-work-work through the winter. Feast or famine. It's all good.
I will be in and out of here sporadically.....I think it is pretty obvious *where* I'll be and what I'll be doing.
When I'm not out Swashbuckling.
You have to have a little fun!  ;-)




Pax....

What Is This Blog.......

It seems the current question floating about the blog world is *what makes an art blog*?
I respect the different answers, but here is the thing; the consensus is people just want to see art. They don't want to read, or find out the thoughts, or other information. Just put the photos up, take a peek and move on.
My blog will never be that way.
Why?

Because the top photo is as connected to the photo above as can be for me. I cannot have one without the other. What inspires me through photography comes into my custom design sewing.

This is completely connected to this:

 And in some way, they all connect to THIS:

For me, art is the ability to connect diverse things into something wonderful. It is a combination of spirituality-creativity-faith, and not necessarily in that order; they change places....one wanes and the other is lifted to fill the void. I tried explaining this to someone who obviously had never felt it and discovered I was speaking a foreign and dead language. I am sure inspiration is not the same for all, but that is what lives and burns in my heart of hearts.
Art has always been a melange of life and everything I do. In one way or another, it connects the dots. And I think it is important to add text with the work, or otherwise important thoughts, processes and components of the whole are stripped and the parts are much less than the sum.
Yes, critics will say that art (GOOD art) should speak for itself, but if that is the case, why are artist's statements still relevant? Why do people ask how we do what we do? What inspired us? What does it all mean?
I don't have the answers~~I just know that my blog is, at any moment, what is going on in my life and head.
And THAT, my friends, always leads~~filtered through the spirituality-creativity-faith corridor~~to art.
And I think it is important to share it because too many people do not see what is around them in life. The hustle of this current age is seek the minimum while you pass the maximum that will fill your soul.
I am, perhaps then, a Luddite in respect to an art blog, but I remain such happily.
And I hope you have the time to read and ask and smile and enjoy.
Because the texture of life is so much richer with the combination of words and photos......




Pax....

Remnants Of The Week......

The week has flown here, and I feel I have only captured tidbits through my camera lens, to save and savor later.

Sharing a few.....it was a week of beauty.

All exquisite proof of why I need to get out of the studio more often and enjoy some of the lushness of the garden before it fades.
My habit of evening photo shooting has returned; this morning I shared coffee with the cool breezes and birds visiting the yard. Robins, brown thrashers, a red-winged blackbird, sparrows of many variations.
Life pushes forward......I think perhaps our ultimate purpose is not to miss it.
Here's to all there is to see~~and hoping you make time to see it!





Pax....

Rambling thoughts and musings...400 posts???

I've had a couple of questions related to New Orleans so I thought it would be good for a post. The brain is a bit numb from too many crawfish and the delicious earthiness of Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager, so I know I can write this! (I probably have crawfish still trying to escape me through my ears----I have no sense once I start eating them.)
The above photo for those who have not seen one is a King Cake. They are served through carnival season only (traditionally) though now can be ordered from commercial bakeries in the South. The dough--at least what I make--is a sweet yeast dough that takes a long time to rise. It is then seperated into three pieces, rolled flat, and filling is inserted. I have occasionally done three different fillings but the original usually has cinnamon, or in some cases, no filling at all. Then the three lengths of dough are braided, and shaped into an oval or circle. When baked, the cake is iced and sprinkled with the green, yellow and purple sugars---the colors of Mardi Gras.
New cakes have a tiny plastic baby baked in; older cakes inserted a lima bean or dime---as these were taken to parties and served, the person who got the piece with the inserted item was responsible for making the next cake, or it was considered a sign of good luck. (I've always put the bean in mine.....)
These are delicious pastry and there are numerous variations on recipes. If you're up to a full day's work, try making one. You'll understand why they are worth the effort.

Images in my header.

I have had a few questions about the images in the header---so let's start with the one of the ex-votos. That is from the ex-voto room at St. Roch's Cemetary chapel. They are just larger version of the small milagros I use in my work. Try Googling ex-votos, it can explain it all better. The cross photo is a color enhanced version of a pic I took of the door to the chapel of the Ursilines convent. They have about a full quarter of a block for their convent/compound in the Quarter. The postcard is one I've saved from when my grandmother visited the city, oh.....I have no idea what year, but the style of the image gives you an idea. I still need to frame it; note to self! Then the final picture is LaFittes Blacksmith Shoppe (yes, Jean LaFitte the Pirate), which is now a bar. Gary and I were photographed in front of it by a professional photographer trying to meet deadline for a travel publication. He was kind enough to shoot our photo with my camera too.......this is strictly the building and if I am not mistaken, it is the oldest in the Quarter. There was a horrible fire that consumed almost every original wood building in the area. How this one stood......  At any rate, it is slowly sinking into the *terra-nonfirma* of the area. I am not sure there is a single bit of the structure that would measure square. It is so interesting to really look at the materials in it in person because it appears to be quite close to the crumble point, yet it has withstood hurricanes.
Amazing.
These are all things that inspire/influence my art work, and that was how I chose them over whatever I was making at the moment. Art changes but inspiration tends to stay.

Yesterday, late, I noticed I had reached my 400th post. I was delighted it was on Fat Tuesday! I can't believe I have blithered that much, but those of you trying to slog through this blog probably can...LOL!! Hmmmmmm.......I may have to figure out a little something to celebrate with for us all. Give my brain a day or two.
And now I am off to sewing. I'm not sure it will be creative work, but it is paying work which lets me be (or BUY!) creative! So I hope y'all have a good creative day too, make something wonderful, or just go look for King Cake recipes.
And enjoy your time, whatever you choose!

Pax.

Hearts, Blogs, Music & Creativity

(click all photos for more detail)

Finally, after too long off, I was able to get back to some of the heart pieces and finish them up. It seems, of late, that once I get behind on one project, then it is a case of falling dominoes....everything goes and I get to try to figure out where to restart.

("Love among the roses")

These two 4"x4" pieces were not hard at all....they were those delightful types of work that seem to make themselves, where it is a joyous journey and the whole comes together without thinking much.

I have to admit, I like those. It seems I have more of the other type that I wrack my brain on and get nowhere fast.

A slight tilted view of one of these to show the depth and crackle from the heavily applied finish. The hearts on both are made of stamped and cut Paper Clay and painted with fluid acrylics. The edge is some acrylic color added to a gel medium, then dipped into a tray of Budgie Grit. It gives a nice earthy finish to something from a garden print paper!

Then I had two pieces similiar to what I have mocked up below:

I sat looking at these until I thought my head would pop. Somewhere between starting, being distracted, and coming back to them, the original idea had gone bye-bye. I liked the ones I had done in the smaller size (pictured here) but it did not translate into the 4"x8" canvas board.

Oh. What to do.

I pushed them aside as I sewed, cleaned, designed, went to the doctor. It wasn't until I was shoveling out the table the other day that I took a good look and thought, "You have to do something", so I immediately ignored the voice in my head and checked the Blogger Dashboard for any new blog updates to comment on! I happened to be at yoborobo's, drooling over some of Pam's new work when I decided to check out some of her links on the side of other blogs she reads. (this is called *serious avoidance* folks....)

Well, I happened to click onto, yes I'm right--just checked, Bone Head Studios, and this haunting and chilling and delicious song begins to play! WHO IS THIS???? It is seductive, eerie, beautiful.....reminds me of the evenings walking the streets of the French Quarter, just as the cool of twilight descends and purple shadows fall long across the narrow streets. It was a complete sensory overload...sufficient to send me romping to Amazon to buy two Jill Tracy CD's, as that was the chanteuse this amazing voice belonged to!

After the impulse purchase, I was flooded with vision on what I wanted these two stubborn pieces to be.....I certainly did not make them, the music made them.....

I wanted that feel of decay in the background, the rust of aging metal, the crackle of paint, paper that has seen brighter and and more pristine days.....and then the hearts and wings. (though it does not show, the wings on both have a light coat of the interference paint, making them glow when held *just so* under the lights)

The edges are finished in the fine German glass glitter in black, the crackle glaze did odd things on here; I don't know why, but it is fine for the pieces!

I still have to coat the hearts and wings with a final varnish, but here is the point that all these words are leading to:

Without the blog music, I would not have come to finish these in a manner I love and am most happy with.

There is much to-do about music and blogs. If your blog is strictly commercial, well, then you have a decision to make. But if you have a blog that is an expression of you,  just think what that music adds to it! And for heaven's sake, if you don't care for music on blogs, just turn the volumn down on your speakers before blog-hopping. Don't chastise the blog writers; those who have worked so hard for real expression.......maybe, just possibly, you might be inspired.

And find something that you can't live without.

And that makes your work sing too.

Can it get much better???

I think not.

Pax.